Represented the Clydes well today...

[chirojeremy]

I participated in my first "race" today. It was the Mesquite Rodeo Ride. Initially I was planning on doing the 33K, but after riding I decided to do the 50K. I was doing awesome reeling people in even in the hill climbs. At about 25 miles, I broke a spoke though and did not realize it until I stopped at the last rest stop at 28.5 miles. They did not have the right size spoke, so they had to sag me back in. That was ok though because after waiting for them for nearly 30 minutes I was tired and did not want to ride any further.:roflmao2: Overall, I am VERY proud of myself for setting a new personal best of 28.5 miles over my previous record of 23.5 miles. I also weighed in this morning at 291lbs for a 14lb total weight loss up to this point! Pics to come later...

[bdinger]

Congrats! And it must be a bad day for spokes, I too needed to call in the SAG 16 miles from home aftder loosing one. I have spares, but no cassette tool or chain whip.. so it's off to the LBS to be rebuilt with double butted beasts.

[StephenH]

I made it down there as well- see my write up here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=426464

I've got more photos, I may try to send them to www.bicycle-stuff.com (http://www.bicycle-stuff.com).

[chirojeremy]

What an awesome day to ride huh? Sure, it was a bit windy at times, but the temps were great IMO. I was one of the guys with the Parker Chiropractic jerseys with the spine and ribs on the back...

[Mr. Beanz]

When you posted about your new Lemond, I mentioned the weak Bonti low spoke count rims. Sounded like you thought I was wrong cause the shop dudes told you they would hold! How long has it been, a month?

I told you, ............Deep V Baby!:D

[idig]

Congrats! And it must be a bad day for spokes, I too needed to call in the SAG 16 miles from home aftder loosing one. I have spares, but no cassette tool or chain whip.. so it's off to the LBS to be rebuilt with double butted beasts.

Already? That's disappointing. I guess I better see if I can squeeze a cassette tool into my tool bag. How many miles did you have on it?

[chirojeremy]

I had 265 miles on it, but I think it broke because my heel clipped it. Had I not had big old clunky shoes and was riding in clipless pedals I dont think it would have happened. If it happens again, I will consider going with a more beefy rim...

[idig]

I was asking bdinger because he has the same bike I have, which makes me concerned that mine is going to break a spoke. I was hoping to at least get a few 1000 miles out of the stock wheels on my LHT.

265 miles is not very much. I would think that your LBS would fix that for free. Of course once one goes, it's a matter of time before you start breaking more of them.

[bdinger]

I was asking bdinger because he has the same bike I have, which makes me concerned that mine is going to break a spoke. I was hoping to at least get a few 1000 miles out of the stock wheels on my LHT.

265 miles is not very much. I would think that your LBS would fix that for free. Of course once one goes, it's a matter of time before you start breaking more of them.

I'm at about 500 miles on the LHT. Last week it popped two, at the nipple, and the LBS said if it happened again they'd rebuild it.. well.. it did :). It seems, and they agree, that I got a bad batch of spokes. Not too surprising given my past luck with wheels, I guess. Anyway, I visited them and my favorite wrench is going to rebuild it with new spokes, and use the DT head washers this time (which help alleviate some of the head issues some have with DT's) as well as doing it 3-cross. They're, again, going far and above.

I'm 340, and I guess I put out a decent amount of power but it's still kind of annoying considering the LHT complete is supposedly designed to carry a 350lb total load. Again, though, it could be much worse and I could have a shop that doesn't take care of me. This is specifically why I'll pay more to support them. In summary, though, I think mine is a exception not a rule. The wheelset on the LHT is beefy as snot, I think I just managed to get unlucky :).

Speaking of tough, I'm going with a 26in 36h Salsa Gordo for my MTB. Saw one at the shop and :eek:!! Those things are TOUGH.

Anyway sorry to derail you, OP, just make sure to keep an eye on your wheel true and drop by the LBS about 100 miles after the spoke replacement for a retension.

[Mr. Beanz]

I'm at about 500 miles on the LHT. Last week it popped two, at the nipple, and the LBS said if it happened again they'd rebuild it.. well.. it did :). It seems, and they agree, that I got a bad batch of spokes. Not too surprising given my past luck with wheels, I guess. Anyway, I visited them and my favorite wrench is going to rebuild it with new spokes, and use the DT head washers this time (which help alleviate some of the head issues some have with DT's) as well as doing it 3-cross. They're, again, going far and above.



Great for you BD! It's great to see a shop really take care of a rider. Going above and beyond for a clyde, that's great. I just think it's sad when a shop misleads a rider saying low end Bontrager low spoke count wheels will hold a 300 lb rider no problem!:(....I have a thrashed stack of them that says different, and I was only 220!:o

[chirojeremy]

My spoke broke at the hub if that matters at all on the left side...

[Mr. Beanz]

At the hub means not enough tension. That's why the shop guys should retension them after a couple of hundred. I had a new bike without right off the floor. I told the shop dude but he was a nerd so I did it myself.:D

Not enough tension allows the spoke to wiggle in place then eventually snap. Like bending a nail over and over, eventually something gives!:(

But if you hit it with your shoe and broke it like you stated, that's something else. Bu I would bet a tension problem. Shops don't mess with the wheels as mich as possible when buying a bike. Some cause they don't know and others are scared to screw it up, cause they don't know! Just like some say low spokes are strong for a Clyde.:(

I've had shop guys actually turn pale when I asked to have my wheel trued. "uh me, me, you want me to true it?":eek:...That's when I started thinking it would be better to do it myself.:D

[Wogsterca]

At the hub means not enough tension. That's why the shop guys should retension them after a couple of hundred. I had a new bike without right off the floor. I told the shop dude but he was a nerd so I did it myself.:D

Not enough tension allows the spoke to wiggle in place then eventually snap. Like bending a nail over and over, eventually something gives!:(

But if you hit it with your shoe and broke it like you stated, that's something else. Bu I would bet a tension problem. Shops don't mess with the wheels as mich as possible when buying a bike. Some cause they don't know and others are scared to screw it up, cause they don't know! Just like some say low spokes are strong for a Clyde.:(

I've had shop guys actually turn pale when I asked to have my wheel trued. "uh me, me, you want me to true it?":eek:...That's when I started thinking it would be better to do it myself.:D

I would think if the shop doesn't have someone who knows how to true a wheel, you need a better shop. Personally I think that cyclists need to push for better training for shop mechanics. Auto mechanics need to go through an apprenticeship and certification program, maybe bicycle mechanics need the same thing, and wheel truing and tensiuoning would be one part of it. These days with tension meters and wheel truing stands that are pretty easy to use, it shouldn't be hard for a shop. heck it shouldn't be hard as a DIY project either......

[Mr. Beanz]

Bad thing Wogster is people ae people! I've had some excellent mechanics do Mickey Mouse wrok cause they were moody, whatever. I find that as no excuse but it happens. Espescially if you're working on my stuff and I'm paying you!

I worked at a defense plant for 13 years.est techs and assemblers were well trained and well paid. But still people did half @$$ed work. They preached excellence only a few of us listened. We made Stinger missle, anti aircraft hand held weapon, sort of a bazooka looking weapon with a heat seeking missle.

The words," think of it as your son is out in the field, an enemy plane is heading towards him, he squeezes the trigger but the wepon fails".:eek:

I feel the same about my bikes Dammit!:D

[StephenH]

I went through my pictures again, and spotted this one, at one of the rest stops (full picture, then a blowup of the center portion):
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/Mesquite5.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/Mesquite6.jpg

[chirojeremy]

Yeah, they had just left while I was in the portopotty